The 16th annual Two Oceans Tuna Derby, one of South Africa’s most prestigious sport fishing tournaments, was held at the Atlantic Boat Club in Hout Bay during the first week of November.
The first tuna derby was held in 2000 with the winning fish weighing a humble 62kg. This year, the competition had 29 entries from as far as Richard’s Bay, and around 130 anglers.
Entrants competed for prizes worth over R800 000 – and the winning team walked away with a Seacat ski-boat with a trailer and two Yamaha engines worth R325 000.
Finding a window for tuna fishing is not always easy when the South Easter blows strongly.
This year, the opening function was held on Friday 1 November, with the first day of fishing on Sunday 3 November and the final day on Tuesday 5 November. An impressive number of both longfin tuna and yellowfin tuna between 50 and 93kg were brought in on the final day of fishing.
Each boat could weigh in two yellowfin tuna over 30kg and one longfin tuna over 15kg for each day of fishing.
This counted towards the overall prize. In addition, prizes were awarded for individual anglers, in the jigging and popper category and in the catch and release category.
The top three winning boat teams are:
- First place: Cloud 9, with a total entered catch at 283.20kg, skippered by Carlos De Gouveia (winning the Yamaha-powered ski-boat with trailer).
- Second place: Extravagence, with a total entered catch at 238.90kg, skippered by Sean Amor.
- Third place: Silver Fox, with a total entered catch at 238.90kg skippered by Heinie Strumpher.
The top three individual catches are:
- First place: Henry Hugo, fishing on Silver Fox, with a 92.80kg Yellowfin.
- Second place: Bob Belgium, fishing on Extravagence, with a 91.20kg Yellowfin.
- Third place: Marc White, fishing on Kaskazi Too, with an 84.30kg Yellowfin.
The top two women anglers are:
- First place: Tarryn Hemmes, fishing on Mi Thyme, with a 57.20kg Yellowfin.
- Second place: Judith Roetman from the Netherlands, fishing on Xtreme 1, with a 52.20kg Yellowfin.
Mark Delany of Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing, title sponsor of the event, said: “A big thank you goes to the team at Atlantic Boat Club in Hout Bay for all their hard work in putting together such a great event, to the anglers who enter and make the competition what it is, and to the incredible support from so many sponsors who make the event possible.”